Thursday, September 28, 2006

Pimp My Tiffin!

This summer I posted a series of picnics featuring my stainless steel food carrier. Although I love, love, love my carrier, several times I found myself walking out the door with lunch in hand but napkin and fork still on the kitchen counter. I dreamed of finding a way to attach my utensils to the tiffin so I wouldn't forget them.

Building a better brain wasn't an option, so eventually I got busy in my sewing room and came up with something I'm calling a Tiffin Hugger:

The quilted fabric cinches tight around the top but leaves the handle exposed for easy toting, and includes enough extra space around the food carrier to tuck in a small ice pack or a snack bar or two. A pocket on the outside holds utensils and a snazzy matching napkin. The hugger is not insulated enough to keep food cold all day, but with an ice pack it will keep lunch cool on the way to work or to the park. And it looks darn-tootin' adorable!

It was so much fun I didn't want to stop, so I made four black floral huggers with matching napkins, and three green floral huggers with hot pink napkins. I've decided to try selling them here for $14.00 each (such a bargain!).

Each tiffin hugger will include a napkin and a little stainless steel ramekin with plastic lid (the same kind I use for dressing in lunches like this one). The stainless steel food carrier and bamboo utensils are not included; you'll have to visit To Go Ware to get those.

I bought a tiffin (and the Laptop Luchboxes for my own not-so-small-anymore children) and love the idea of the Tiffin Hugger. I take mine to work and pop it directly in the fridge and if I didn't have that option I would totally buy one. Thanks for inspiring my vegan life - I'm psyched about the cookbook.

Those are so cute! My husband (from India) told me that in the "old days" they had tiffins with a fork that screwed into the top across the locking mechanism. He remembers carrying his tiffin back and forth to school on his bike, dropping it several times. The tiffin survived with a few dents but the fork kept it closed. I orderd one of the tiffins like you have there, and a more old fashioned stackable one for family picnics. Alas I can't find one with the screw-on fork. (Besides, in India people traditionally eat with their hands.)

oh my, these tiffin huggers are so cute! I feel like hugging the huggers myself!

Wow, you have a sewing room... you're so creative and talented! And quite industrious. =P

If you can find matching fabric, it'd be cute if you could make a hugger that looks like a sunflower sprouting leaves or a gardening basket or something similar. ...Patent the "Tiffin Hugger" before someone else notices! =)

excellent idea! i was just trying to problem solve this on wed when i almost walked out without the fork! you are very creative and the fabric is pretty. i ordered one! thanks and i can't wait for your book!

I adore the tiffin! And your cozy is adorable - I've just been using a bandanna, which isn't half as nice. I like To Go Ware as a company, but also, if anyone is out to buy a tiffin and likes to support local business, check your hometown asian grocery! The (very small) asian grocery near my house in North Carolina, for instance, has four or five different sizes. I got a three-level one for $18 and I've used it every day since. I think the tiffin box might be the next big thing. Every time I pull mine out on my college campus, everyone wants to know where they can get one.

I would add, I don't know if this is good tiffin-box practice, but I have put one of the stainless steel bowls in the oven. I was baking a crust on top of a casserole to make it more portable - it worked great!

Hi Jennifer- I was talking about an all black one. As a college student it would go with my outfit everyday more than a floral pattern and then I can carry it like a purse! =) Love the idea by the way!

He hee, I was also talking about an all black one, but much more neutral/subtle patterns are nice too. But my sling is black, my mei tai is black, most of my clothes are black, my cat is black.. you get the idea. Black always sells :)

I am interested in getting one of those tiffins, but I'm worried about the possibilities of re-heating things at work... We only have a microwave, so that would mean that I'd have to use a paper plate anyway...

I would love to buy a tiffin hugger, so please make more! My first choice color would be black. If you are not planning to make any more tiffin huggers, please let us know where we can get stainless steel ramekins with lids like the one(s) you have.

If you ever decide to make the Tiffin Huggger again, I would love to carry them at my vegan store in Illinois. We sell the To-Go Ware and this is a great idea! Just let me know if you are ever interested. Linda (www.triballife.net)

Hi there. This is my first time commenting. I found your site about 3 days ago and have been obsessed with it ever since! I have been packing veg (not vegan) lunches in the LapTopLunchboxes for my kids for a few years now and LOVE your creative, inspiring recipes! I would also love a tiffin hugger if you decide to make some more. I am not picky and would take any pattern you make. Thanks so much-you have enriched our lives so much! Not to mention our food!!

Not sure how current this thread is; I'm posting on October 2, 2008. Jennifer, I, too, am interested in finding some of the little ramekins with lids. I have several tiffins and it is difficult to get the kids to take a lunch without a container to put yogurt and sauces in. I refuse to buy any new plastic and I'm running out! I have found some on line but they either are too big or don't come with lids. Thanks! I